By Asma bint Shameem
Indeed, it is true that one night our beloved Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was granted the Night Journey of al-Israa' wal Mi'raaj, when he was transported from Masjid al-Haraam to Masjid al-Aqsa and then onwards, he ascended to the Heavens.
This is definitely part of our Faith.
It says so in the Qur’an and there is no denying that fact.
However, the big questions to ask are.......
What did the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam do when the same day arrived the next year?
Or the year after that?
Or the year after that?
Did he salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam EVER celebrate the night of al-Israa' wal Mi'raaj, or fast the next day?
And what did he instruct the Sahaabah to do about his Night Journey?
Did he tell them to celebrate that night as a 'special night' for worshiping Allah?
Did he tell them to specifically fast the next day because it was 'the day after the Journey'?
And what were the actions of the Sahaabah themselves?
Did THEY do any of the above??
The answer to all of the above is a big resounding NO.
Surely the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not omit or forget anything in the deen.
And surely he did not hide anything from us.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
"There is nothing that brings you closer to Jannah except that I have informed you about it and there is nothing that brings you closer to the fire of Hell except that I have warned you against it."
(at-Tabaraani--Sahih)
Then why do we not have ANY Sahih reports of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam or the Sahaabah worshiping Allah especially on this night and fasting the next day?
That’s because that was NOT the practice of the Prophet
salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam OR his Sahaabah.
If celebrating this event was something that is prescribed in Islam, the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would certainly have told his ummah about it, either by his word or his action.
If any such thing had happened, it would have been well known, and his companions would have transferred that information to us.
The Sahaabah narrated from the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam everything that we need to know, and they did not neglect any aspect of the Deen;
Actually they were the *first* ones to do anything good.
If celebrating this night had been prescribed in Islaam, they would have been the first people to do so.
And if it wasn't the practice of our Beloved Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam or his Sahaabah, then, why do we insist on doing it?
Isn't the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the best example to be followed?
Allah tells us:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
"In the Messenger of Allah you have a fine example for he who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah abundantly."
(Surah al-Ahzaab: 21)
But everyone does so!
Sure, I know, we have seen our fathers and grandfathers doing so.
But, remember that it is NOT our forefathers that we are supposed to follow.
Rather, our ibaadah should be based on *proofs* from the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, and NOT culture or tradition.
Just look at what Allah says about people who insist on following their forefathers.
Allah said:
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ قَالُواْ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ
"When it is said to them: 'Follow what Allah has sent down,' they reply: 'We will follow that which we found our fathers upon,' even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided."
(Surah al-Baqarah: 170)
But I hear many "Shaikhs" say so!
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
"Whoever among you lives will see many DIFFERENCES, so I urge you to ADHERE to MY SUNNAH and the way of the rightly-guided caliphs who will come after me, and cling firmly to it. Beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray."
(Abu Dawood, others- sahih by al-Albaani)
Is good intention not enough?
I'm sure, that in celebrating this night, your intention is good.
But dear brother/sister, in order for our worship to be accepted, not only should our intentions be good and purely for Allah, rather the action also has to have PROOF from the Qur'an and Sunnah.
If it is not so, it will be rejected.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
"Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected."
(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
The exact date is unknown
Also, do you know that even though the incidence of al-Israa' wal Mi'raaj is an undeniable fact in history, yet the exact date or even the exact month in which this took place is not certain?
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz said:
"With regard to this night on which the Isra' and Mi'raaj took place, there is nothing in the sahih ahaadeeth to indicate that it is in Rajab or in any other month. Everything that has been narrated concerning a specific date for these events cannot be proven to have come from the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam according to the scholars of hadith...."
But, what's the harm if I celebrate it?
Now, some of you will say, "What's the harm in it? I am just worshiping Allah!"
But, Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala Himself answers to that.
He says:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءتْ
مَصِيرً
"And whosoever opposes the Messenger Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and *burn him in Hell* - what an evil destination!"
[Surah an-Nisaa:115]
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen says:
"Fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab and spending that night in prayer is a bid'ah (innovation), and every bid'ah is a going astray."
(Majmoo' Fataawa , 20/440)
So, remember, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, DO NOT single out the 27th for your worship because it was NOT the practice of the Prophet OR his Sahaabah.
If however, you pray EVERY single night and it is part of your DAILY ROUTINE to stay up for ibaadah, then there is no harm.
Similarly, if you are in the habit of fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or during Ayyaam Beed (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every Islamic month), and the 27th of Rajab falls on one of those days, then it is OK to do so.
The problem arises when one thinks that this night is special and singles out this night or day for worship, thinking they are getting extra reward for their worship.
But this is contrary to the Sharee’ah and against the teachings of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
And Allah knows best.
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